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Trip from Lorton, VA to Roanoke, VA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 53m

Distance

235.6 mi

379 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 41m ★
6 AM
3h 54m
8 AM
4h 19m
10 AM
4h 3m
12 PM
4h 0m
3 PM
4h 4m
5 PM
4h 18m
8 PM
3h 46m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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census designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States

Lorton, VA

Wikimedia Commons

independent city in Virginia, United States

Roanoke, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 235.6-mile drive from Lorton, VA, to Roanoke, VA, is estimated to take around 3 hours and 53 minutes. It's a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. With a projected fuel cost of $38, this journey through Virginia's Southeast region is budget-friendly. The route primarily uses local roads, so expect a more involved driving experience compared to an interstate cruise. You'll likely make about one planned stop along the way, making it a manageable and accessible trip for most travelers.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

117.8 miles from Lorton, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Sanger Street — —
Lorton Road — —
Ox Road — —
VA 286 North — —
Fairfax County Parkway — —
I 66 West — —
I 81 South — —
I 581 — —

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Sanger Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lorton, VA and Roanoke, VA.

1

Start on Sanger Street

308 ft · 41 sec · Sanger Street
2

Continue on Sanger Street

417 ft · 20 sec · Sanger Street
3

Turn left onto Lorton Road

2.0 mi · 3 min · Lorton Road
4

At the end of the road, turn right onto Ox Road

7.1 mi · 10 min · Ox Road
5

Take the exit straight toward VA 286 North: Fairfax County Parkway

0.4 mi · 1 min · VA 286 North: Fairfax County Parkway
6

Merge slight left onto Fairfax County Parkway

6.2 mi · 9 min · Fairfax County Parkway
7

Take the exit slight right toward I 66 West: Front Royal

0.4 mi · 47 sec · I 66 West: Front Royal
8

Keep slight left to continue on I 66 West: Front Royal

0.5 mi · 44 sec · I 66 West: Front Royal
9

Merge slight left

55 mi · 59 min
10

Keep slight left to continue on I 81 South: Roanoke

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 81 South: Roanoke
11

Merge slight right onto I 81 South: Roanoke

109 mi · 1 hr 58 min · I 81 South: Roanoke
12

Keep slight left

48 mi · 52 min
13

Take the exit slight left toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke

5.9 mi · 8 min · I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke
14

Take the exit slight right toward US 11 South, US 220 Business South: Downtown

0.1 mi · 17 sec · US 11 South, US 220 Business South: Downtown
15

Keep slight left

0.3 mi · 56 sec
16

Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Salem Avenue Southeast
17

Turn left onto South Jefferson Street

476 ft · 20 sec · South Jefferson Street
18

Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest

377 ft · 22 sec · Kirk Avenue Southwest
19

Turn left

115 ft · 14 sec
20

Turn left

131 ft · 10 sec
21

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

For this 235.6-mile journey, consider an early morning departure to make the most of your day in Roanoke. Since it's a 'turn-heavy local drive,' pace yourself and plan for one stop to break up the nearly 4-hour duration. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially since you'll be on local roads for the entire trip and won't have the convenience of frequent highway service areas. The $38 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a little extra. Being on local roads means you'll encounter varied speed limits and potentially more traffic signals, so factor that into your timing.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 117.8 miles from Lorton, VA, or about 1h 56m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 52 miles or 51m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 117.8 miles or 1h 56m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 11m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Roanoke, VA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Lorton, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Lorton, VA

This is one driving day of about 235.6 miles and 3h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Lorton, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

independent city in Virginia, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Harrisonburg, VA

118 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Middleburg, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Harrisonburg, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 117.8 miles from Lorton, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Roanoke, Virginia

Near the end, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $50 to $10 mile 235.6

Hours: 5–9 pm

+15405663891

Visit website

Bob's Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Vinton, Virginia

1.8 mi

Brickmakers Cafe

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Lorton, Virginia

2.1 mi

Top Coffee Stop

The Albemarle Bakery & Coffee House

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Roanoke, Virginia

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 235.6

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+15409823842

Visit website

The Cardinal Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Roanoke, Virginia

1.9 mi

bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $50 to $10 mile 235.6

Roanoke, Virginia

Hours: 5–9 pm

+15405663891

Visit website

Bob's Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 235.6

Vinton, Virginia

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+15409820773

Visit website

Brickmakers Cafe

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Lorton, Virginia

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+17036469486

Visit website

Dogwood Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 235.6

Vinton, Virginia

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+15403436549

Visit website

Starline Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Springfield, Virginia

Hours: 6:30 am–4 pm

+17034554141

Visit website

CAFE MOMENT

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 16.8

Chantilly, Virginia

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+17033768090

Visit website

Woodstock Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 84.1

Woodstock, Virginia

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+15404598888

Visit website

Sully Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 16.8

Chantilly, Virginia

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+17039680010

The Albemarle Bakery & Coffee House

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 235.6

Roanoke, Virginia

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+15409823842

Visit website

The Cardinal Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 235.6

Roanoke, Virginia

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+15409005020

Visit website

Rivian Waypoints

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 235.6

Roanoke, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18337484267

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 235.6

Roanoke, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Rivian Adventure Network

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 67.3

Front Royal, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18337484267

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

2.0 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route mile 235.6

Roanoke, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15403430585

Electrify America Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 218.8

Fincastle, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 185.1

Lexington, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 235.6

Roanoke, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 235.6

Roanoke, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Virginia Museum of Transportation

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 235.6

Roanoke, Virginia

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+15403425670

Visit website

Occoquan Regional Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Lorton, Virginia

Hours: 6:30 am–7 pm

+17036902121

Visit website

Lorton Prison Museum featuring the Lucy Burns Gallery

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Lorton, Virginia

Hours: Closed

+17035842917

Visit website

River Mill Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Occoquan Historic District, Virginia

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+17034901918

Visit website

National Museum of the United States Army

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Fort Belvoir, Virginia

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+18005062672

Visit website

Flight Adventure Park Springfield

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Springfield, Virginia

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+17036632440

Visit website

Pohick Bay Regional Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Lorton, Virginia

+17033396104

Visit website

South Run Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour

Springfield, Virginia

Hours: 5 am–9 pm

+17038660566

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$36.84 one way

$73.69 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 82 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $40.28 $80.57
premium $4.70 $43.60 $87.21
diesel $5.61 $52.02 $104.04

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$37

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 82.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 70.7 0 $24.74 $11.31
Efficient EV 58.9 0 $20.62 $9.42
EV Truck/SUV 94.2 1 $32.98 $15.08

Gas CO2

82 kg

EV CO2

28 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Lorton, VA

Late night in Lorton on Sunday

Local time

3:48 AM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Roanoke, VA

Late night in Roanoke on Sunday

Local time

3:48 AM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

8 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 53m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with a 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating a series of local roads rather than cruising on major highways. While there isn't a designated longest uninterrupted stretch, the frequent turns suggest a route that requires constant attention and engagement. You'll experience a more intimate connection with the landscape as you traverse these local arteries, passing through communities and varied terrain without the high speeds associated with interstate travel.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Sanger Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 53m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lorton, VA to Roanoke, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 53m. Total distance: 235.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lorton, VA to Roanoke, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Roanoke, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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